Did NBC David Gregory commit Felony on Live TV in Washington DC?

It was just a misunderstanding

Washington police are investigating whether NBC’s David Gregory broke the law by holding up what appeared to be a 30-round gun magazine on Sunday’s Meet the Press after the network apparently got conflicting opinions about whether it would be legal for him to do so.

It is illegal in the district to possess a “large capacity ammunition feeding device.”

Gwendolyn Crump, director of the Office of Communications for the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, told ABC News, “NBC contacted MPD inquiring if they could utilize a high capacity magazine for their segment. NBC was informed that possession of a high capacity magazine is not permissible and their request was denied. This matter is currently being investigated.”

But ABC News has learned from an official at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives that NBC had reached out to the federal agency on Friday for advice before displaying the weaponry.

According to the ATF official, the agency noted that ATF doesn’t enforce D.C. gun laws, but agreed to put the question to a couple of Washington police officers who’ve worked with the agency in the past.

The D.C. officers advised the ATF spokesman that Gregory could display the magazine, provided it was empty, the source said.

That turned out to be bad advice, as conservative media and gun rights activists were first to note. The ATF official describes this as a “misunderstanding,” and says he hopes DC police will not bring charges.

Another Washington DC police officer and spokesperson Tisha Gant said the situation was “being investigated,” but would give no other details including what exactly is under investigation.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politic...gating-whether-nbcs-gregory-violated-gun-law/
 
So which is it, ignorance is no excuse, gun laws are for little people(selective enforcement), or scoff law? It could be the first one, if they received bad advice. It could be the second if they consider their prominence a waive, or they could just not care (a la Honey Badger), for example, Piers Morgan and the phone hacking scandal. I'd like to see him get some alien and sedition charges (whatever) brought on that one.
 
The ATF was correct the first time. They do not enforce DC law and have no say in how DC enforces it. Why they choose to interpose and involve themselves in a blatantly political manner to support a one sided argument is scandalous. The justice department should be ashamed of themselves they way they have involved themselves in the gun control debate in the last few years.
 
As many who followed the IRS advice know; simply because a gov't official/representative tells you you can do something illegal; doens't make it legal.
 
Anybody look up the penalty, I haven't?
Yes, a year in jail and $1000 fine.
Yep, and the penalty for possession of marijuana in the District is six months and a $1000 fine. Would everyone be jumping to his defense if he was waving a bag of reefer around? I think not.

Or...what if it was LaPierre who had the magazine? We'd be seeing a different take on things.
 
Speaking of marijuana, aren't many who want new gun laws, the same ones who claim the war on drugs is a failure and often cite the fact of easy availability, as one proof prohibitions do no good?

Its an undeniable fact that cities like Chicago and DC have high gun crime rates, yet have tough gun laws. How do they suppose that tough national laws, won't just be ignored by criminals and the black market?

If they claim that Chicago and DC's problem is because other States have easy availability and lax laws...What about Mexico? Do they suppose the cartels couldn't smuggle weapons, as easy as the do drugs? Do they really suppose that most of the millions of semi-auto rifles out there now, will actually get turned in?

I know my opinion must be jaded, given my pro-gun stance, but how am I wrong? How will the silly new laws they propose actually help?
 
Yep, and the penalty for possession of marijuana in the District is six months and a $1000 fine. Would everyone be jumping to his defense if he was waving a bag of reefer around? I think not.

Or...what if it was LaPierre who had the magazine? We'd be seeing a different take on things.
If the person waiving around the marijuana did so to support the argument marijuana should be illegal, then those opposed would most definitely point out the hypocrisy.
 
I am all for the book getting thrown at Gregory, and hopefully the entire chain of possession that ended up with him displaying the magazine on TV. From the video it looks like there is no floorplate, which leads me to believe no spring or follower. With any luck they can at least get the network with constructive intent if they track down the spring, follower and floorplate.
 
Gregory will be meeting with President Obama this weekend on Meet The Press. Remarkable how the Secret Service is unconcerned about his possession of illegal weapon parts.
 
I have suggested elsewhere that if Gregory gets some time, the NRA should hold a demonstration in front of the jail with:

FREE GREGORY! SUPPORT THE SECOND!

Wouldn't that be delicious?
 
Miss the point. Gregory should have the right to own a 30 round mag. Such laws clearly violate the intent of the 2nd Amend. in my opinion - despite Scalia arguing that some weaponery can be banned legitimately. A 30 round mag isn't a nuke.

Thus, the public as the right to assemble and petition for this violation of basic rights to be overturned.

It is just as in any case of rights violation. Demonstrations for civil rights are a part and parcel of American democracy. Many groups have used the demonstration and assembly to make their point known.

According to at least one theory of morality - if a law violates a moral position, then using legal means to petition for its change is a moral act.

Gregory's breaking the law (whatever his purpose) should not be illegal anymore than the arrests of folks who violated Jim Crow laws were morally valid.

That such a demonstration would be used to free an antigun media personality is amusing, isn't it?
 
My response was more deadpan than anything. However I don't think the NRA should involve themselves in such a protest if there were one as it would be hypocritical. A protest would be nicely ironic.
 
a magazine of any capacity may violate whatever law but I am in agreement with Glenns position...

Such laws are IMHO unconstitutional and violate a basic tenant of the freedom.
 
I would be for demonstrating for a repeal of the law, and a pardon for Gregory, (and anyone else previously convicted of violating that provision) should Gregory be convicted (which I doubt he will be, but should he be)

To do anything else would be a hypocrite.
 
DG; NBC, HBO....

I highly doubt anything will happen with Gregory but as I posted before, he's been in trouble before with the NBC News mgmt about how he does things on Meet the Press. :(
He reminds me of the dreadful character Jeff Daniels plays on HBO's drama about broadcast news. If you have HBO or have seen any episodes, then you know how anti-gun & slanted it can get. I got very annoyed when the Daniels character(a Glenn Beck/Bill O'Reily type) "disarms" another female character of a Walther PPK .380acp. He then scolds the woman, telling her that most armed citizens in real critical incidents have their guns snatched by the subject(s). REALLY? Huh. With all the 1000s of new concealed carry licenses & new state laws, you'd think weapon retention or gun thefts would be a HUGE media issue.

Clyde
 
I have suggested elsewhere that if Gregory gets some time, the NRA should hold a demonstration in front of the jail with:

FREE GREGORY! SUPPORT THE SECOND!

Wouldn't that be delicious?

Actually, that would be rather brilliant. Not only would it highlight the absurdity of the D.C. law, but it would also force the media elites to choose between continuing to push an anti-gun agenda and protecting one of their own (something they seem to do with even more vigor than pushing their political agendas). Likewise, it would serve to contradict the accusations that the NRA is nothing more than an extension of the Republican party.
 
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